What is it?

This is a LoRa Concentrator/Gateway designed for Raspberry Pi, using SX1308 and two SX1257 @ 915Mhz band with MAX-7Q GPS module.

Why did you make it?

I started building LoRa gateway about a year ago because, in the early days,
companies that made this didn't want to sell me only one unit.Thus, trying to build my own.

What makes it special?

Well... If you don't know about LoRa Gateway, this board uses SX1308, which is a 8 frequency x 7~12SF @ 125Khz Bw LoRa + one Lora + one FSK channel decoder. Moreover, they can simultaneously decode, which means that even I have two nodes with different Spreading Factor but the same frequency and Spreading Factor, SX1308 still can decode both of them!

If you already know about LoRa Gateway, this is a normal SX1308 Gateway with two SX1257 and on-board LNA and PA with RF switch specifically design for Raspberry Pi.This board also come with MAX-7Q GPS module, and it's pulse-per-second output is connected to both SX1308 and Raspberry Pi,so not only that SX1308 can have accurate timing, RPI also can be used it as NTP server.

RF connector is using SMA, but you can replace it with U.FL, and GPS antenna come with U.FL connector but also replaceable with SMA.(Soldering tool needed)

Also, because Raspberry Pi has two SPI hardware Chip-Select, there is a jumper on the bottom of the board,
so you can select either CE0 or CE1, and stack two boards the same time, if you want to stack other boards,
there's an option for Extra Tall Header.

And since it is specifically designed for Raspberry Pi, this board is able to extend PoE header for PoE hat on the new Raspberry Pi 3 B+. And the Extra Tall header for PoE is also included with Extra Tall Header option.

The whole project is opensource. Files and WIKI are on GitHub. If you encounter any issue, please send an issue on the Github Page, also note that I might not able to provide strong support for this board, the SCH & PCB & software files are fully open, and this board is provided as is.
Also RPI is not included

Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

Wow! That's the best gateway out there!

8 Channels, long distance, great forum support. Will is great trying to help. But community is best!

The equipment is perfectly finished, packaged and sent. The delivery was fast and it included everything to setup the node.

I'm very happy with the purchase. And I surely will buy more from him. Thank you a lot. https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/finished-opensource-raspberry-pi-gateway-hat-sx1301-8-base/10994/67?u=gaguilar

Fully satisfied

Product matches exactly the specsFast delivery and well packedDocumentation is easy to get and understand with guided "How to start"One minor negative point : As annouced by the seller, I had to solder the header myself. This does not match to the "ready to use" of raspberry pi HAT-like

Amazing board at decent price point

Couldn't have designed and built better LORA hat for price paid - as described 915MHz shipped with antenna and hardware (nice touch). Be warned that the SX1308 gets too hot to touch as described in Semtech app note that recommends heat sinks top and bottom - I added fan instead to keep at room temp. Using with MKR WAN 1300 US915_HYBRID band changing TTN global_conf.json file to sub band 1 frequencies. A couple of the steps in instructions seem to be out of sequence but they are all there - kudos for being thorough. All-in-all perfect board optimized for both form and function - great job Will!

Great product, works great with TTN, fast shipping

I had my eye on this gateway board for a while and ended up buying one recently. The price is great for a proper full 8 channel LoRa gateway, and being connected to the Raspberry Pi means that it's really easy to work with.

The gateway board took a little under two weeks from the date of purchase to arrive to my home in the United States. It was well packaged.

All of the soldering and board layout look great under a microscope. I really like the look of the new black PCB version.

I tested it out with both TTN and LoRaServer.io and it works with both. The seller has great documentation on the GitHub repository wiki showing how to set everything up with TTN.

I did notice that some of the chips on the board like the SX1308 get pretty warm, so I'll probably be installing a heatsink onto it.

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